Maybe South Park Is Already Right About This Whole Election

Last year, when South Park kicked off its 19th season, it did so by identifying an underlying driving force of the early election season: PC culture. In the premiere of its 20th season last night, it did something equally as spectacular: The show positioned itself to get through this entire election without ever uttering the words "Donald Trump" by resurrecting the old "Giant Douche vs. Turd Sandwich" battle from 2004. And that may be a hint at what is this year's PC culture.

Following-up its most genius season to-date, South Park started slow in episode one of Season 20 last night. The episode acted as more of a set-up for some of the longer story arcs that will likely run through this season. Taking on the Colin Kaepernick controversy, the United States government has enlisted J.J. Abrams to save the country by re-booting the National Anthem. Meanwhile, South Park Elementary is being terrorized by an online troll named skankhunt42, who is saying horrible things about women. In protest, the women of South Park Elementary are sitting down during the National Anthem. And with some hilarious early commentary, fans only fill the stands to see which girls sit and which don't.

Getting into politics, this presidential election is a race between Giant Douche (aka Mr. Garrison with an orange face and no fucking clue) and Turd Sandwich (aka a character that looks remarkably like Hillary Clinton). Last season, Garrison got into this whole election with nothing more than his anti-PC "fuck them all to death" platform. Now, as one of two main presidential candidates, he's realized he has no idea what the hell he's doing. Rather than drop out or win the race, he realizes he has to do everything he can to make sure his opponent wins, which is kinda difficult when that opponent is a Turd Sandwich. As the adults of South Park watch this election play out, they sedate themselves with Member Berries—adorable little treats that ask, "'Member Chewbacca?"

While the episode was disjointed and rather bland—considering last year had already introduced PC Principal, one of its strongest characters in years—it may be onto something. Assuming the show continues with its new trend of serialized seasons, many of these themes can grow as the episodes go on.

What's interesting is that Trey Parker and Matt Stone chose to rehash the Douche vs. Turd debate in an episode that critiques the dangers of nostalgia. Here, the country is using the past to solve future problems, while the people of South Park are using their sentimentality to forget the present. Lounging around enjoying his Member Berries, one asks Randy, "'Member when there weren't so many Mexicans?" Maybe this is the PC culture of Season 20. Maybe this is the force behind Trump—that his supporters harken back to a time that was a less progressive, self-idealized version of reality.